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  • 2019
  • Chapter
  • Handbook of Inclusive Innovation

Problem, Person, and Pathway: A Framework for Social Innovators

By: Julie Battilana, Brittany Butler, Marissa Kimsey, Johanna Mair, Christopher Marquis and Christian Seelos
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Abstract

As the appetite for learning about social innovation intensifies, how can we better prepare practitioners for the work of addressing the world’s pressing social problems at the relevant scale? This chapter presents the “3P” framework that we developed to help address this challenge, grounded in our experience researching, teaching, and advising social innovators around the world. In this framework, we propose three key lenses to help social innovators contribute to social change, unpacking the nature of: the problem at hand, the person pursuing change, and the pathway to change. Considering the alignment of these 3Ps provides an organizing template for social innovators to think about how they can effectively contribute to solving social problems. We illustrate how we engage new and experienced social innovators in this learning journey by discussing our pedagogical approach as educators. In conclusion, we discuss future research directions to help address unanswered questions.

Keywords

Social Innovation; Social Entrepreneurship; Social Issues; Change; Problems and Challenges

Citation

Battilana, Julie, Brittany Butler, Marissa Kimsey, Johanna Mair, Christopher Marquis, and Christian Seelos. "Problem, Person, and Pathway: A Framework for Social Innovators." In Handbook of Inclusive Innovation: The Role of Organizations, Markets and Communities in Social Innovation, edited by Gerard George, Ted Baker, Paul Tracey, and Havovi Joshi, 61–74. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019.
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About The Author

Julie Battilana

Organizational Behavior
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    By: Julie Battilana
More from the Authors
  • Le Manifeste travail: Démocratiser, démarchandiser, dépolluer [The Working Manifesto: Democratize, Decommodify, Decarbonize] By: Isabelle Ferreras, Julie Battilana and Dominique Méda
  • Terra Nova: A Social Business Trying to Unlock Land Rights for the Urban Poor in Brazil By: Julie Battilana, Ruth Costas, Marissa Kimsey and Priscilla Zogbi
  • La poursuite conjointe d'objectifs sociaux et financiers dans les entreprises. L'entreprise sociale comme laboratoire d'étude des modes d'organisation hybrides By: Julie Battilana
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